Burial-vault



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

BIKAUFMAN BURIAL VAULT.

No. 577,260. Patented Feb. 16, 1897.

lll

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-SheetZ.

I'. KAUFMAN.

BURIAL VAULT. N0. 577,260. u l Patented Feb. 16, 1897.

|11 umd!!! UNITED *STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK KAUEMAN, or RosEDALE, OHIO.

BURIAL-VAU LT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 577,260, dated February 16, 1897.

Application led April 28, 1896. Serial No. 589,481. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, FRANK KAUFMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rosedale, in the county of Madison and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Vault, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the construction of burial-vaults or othersubterraneous chainbers from which it is desired to exclude water and prevent the inroads of burrowing animals, and has for its object to simplify and cheapen this class of structures and provide for the ready assembling and tying of the parts.

With these and other objects in view, as

. will appear to those skilled in the art, the improvement consists of the novel features which hereinafter will more fully appear, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of a vault constructed in accordance with this invention, the cover being elevated. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof, the cover being in position and showing different means for securing a tight joint between the slabs or parts composing the cover. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the bottom, the lupper portion being removed. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the vault, the cover being removed. Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the body of the vault, the cover being omitted. Fig. 6 is a detail View of a portion of the bottom, a side, the tie-bar and cap, the' parts being separated and disposed in a group.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and are indicated in the several views of the accompanying drawings by the same reference-characters.

The burial-vault or subterraneous structure is composed of a series of suitably-formed slabs or tiles, which are cemented together at their meeting edges, said slabs or tiles being constructed of earthenware, concrete, or suitable plastic coniposition, and to secure the requisite strength and lightness the said slabs or tiles are hollow, although this is not absolutely necessary in the bottom and side tiles.

The slabs or tiles 1 comprising the bottom will have an integral rib 2 on their top side adjacent to the outer edge to form an abutment to prevent 'the inward displacement of the side or body slabs 3. When the slabs do not extend the entire width of the vault or structure, the intermediate ones will be plain, and only those designed to form the outer side will be supplied with the projecting rib 2, as shown. The end or corner slabs will be secured together by a miter-joint, so that the rib 2 may extend entirely around the bottom at the desired distance from the outer edge thereof, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3. The purpose of the rib 2 is to prevent inward displacement of the side slabs 3 when the latter are subjected to pressure from without by reason of 'ramping the earth about the vault after the latter is set up.

The side or body slabs 3 are similarly formed, each having a projecting lip 4 at one edge to extend over the joint formed by placing the slabs end to end. A slab at each corner has a lip 5, extending from the side thereof and corresponding to the lip 4 and for a like purpose, the lip 'overlappingthe joint formed by placing the edge of one corner-slab against the side of the adjacent corner-slab. The top edge of the side or body slab 3 is grooved or channeled, as shown at 6, the said groove being suiiiciently deep to receive a tie-bar 7 and a rib 8, the latter being formed on the lower side of a cap 9. The tie-bar 7 forms a bond to connect the body-slabs at their upper ends and is preferably in the form of a frame, although this is not essential so long as the required object is obtained.

The cap 9 is intended to give a neat iinis-h to the upper portion of the vault-body and conceal the upper ends of the lips 4 and 5 and is provided in the shape of tiles of suitable length and is held in place by a cement or mortar joint. The parts comprising the cap will be arranged to break joint with the side slabs, thereby giving additional strength to the vault.

The cover is composed of a series of top slabs 10, which are hollow and of large dimensions, so as to span the vault and rest upon the side walls thereof. The lower portion of the top slabs is fiat, whereas tlieupper portion inclines in opposite directions from an intermediate point, and one or more webs connect the upper and lower portions, so as to brace and strengthen them. The position and number of these webs 11 are immaterial and may be varied as desired. Flanges 12 project vertically from the ends of each top slab, and the iianges of adjacent slabs touch throughout their length and breadth when the slabs are placed end to end. The upper edges of the flanges are beveled outwardly and downwardly, so that a trough is formed between the beveled edges of contiguous flanges when the top slabs are in position. This trough provides for the reception oi cement, whereby a close joint can be secured. A cap 13 may be placed over the meeting flanges and cemented in place to serve in securing a substantial and tight joint between the ends of adjacent slabs. This cap is curved between its edges and is formed of the material employed in the construction of the slabs or tiles entering into the formation of the structure.

In forming a vault or like chamber in accordance with this invention the bottom slabs or tiles are placed in position, so as to provide a vertical rib 2 adjacent to the outer edge of the bottom. The side or body slabs are next placed in position upon the outer edge portion of the bottom, exterior to the rib 2, and their upper ends are bonded by placing the tie-bars 7 in the groove or channel at the top edge of the body-slabs. The upper edge of the body is finished by placing the cap 9 thereon. IVhen it is required to close the vault, the cover is placed thereon by resting the top slabs upon the cap, and the joints between the meeting edges of the top slabs are cemented. The meeting edges and parts of the several slabs or tiles are connected by a mortar or cement joint, whereby the vault is Sealed and rendered practically proof against moisture and the ingress of burrowing animals.

What I claim isA 1. A slab for use in the construction of burial-vaults or like structures, having vertical or outwardly-extending flanges at its ends, which flanges are beveled outwardly at their extreme edges to form a trough when similar slabs are placed end to end, substantially as set forth.

2. In a vault or like structure, a top composed of a series of hollow slabs having their upper surfaces oppositely inclining from an intermediate point, and having vertical ilanges at their ends which are 4beveled outwardly at their extreme edges so as to form a trough when the slabs are together, substantially as shown for the purpose described.

3. In a vault or like structure, a top formed of hollow slabs having vertical flanges at their ends beveled outwardly to form troughs, and a cap cemented over the upper edges of the flanges, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a vault, the combination of a series of body-slabs grooved or channeled in their upper edges, a tie-bar cemented in the groove or channel, and a cap for securing a finished appearance to the top edge of the vault composed of sections which are arranged to break joint with the bod y-slabs, and having a pendent tongue to enter and be cemented in the aforesaid groove or channel, substantially as Set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aiiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK KAUFMAN. lNlitiiesses:

CHAs. CHAFFIN, ANNA MOORE. 

